Namas

People of Namibia

Nama people

Introduction

The Nama people are a pastoral people of southern Africa who live mainly in Namibia (246 000), also in South Africa (76 000) and to a lesser degree in Botswana (1600) and is one of the main branches Khoikhoi .

Their traditional language is Nama, but most now speak Afrikaans.

Namas, as the Bushmen , have fair skin and were traditionally hunter-gatherers.
Today, the Nama live in the south, and most are employed on commercial farms.
For them, the? One of the oldest in Namibia, land and objects are the property of all.

History of Nama people

For thousands of years they have maintained a pastoral life, herding goats and sheep, gathering of firewood and harvesting honey.

Following the discovery of diamonds at the mouth of the Orange River in the 1920s, prospectors settled in the region, building cities like Alexander Bay and Port Nolloth, a process that accelerated with the appropriation of land traditional that began early in the colonial era. Under the apartheid regime, past pastors were encouraged to settle in villages.

Lifestyle and Culture of Nama people

Despite the penetration missionary, the Herero remain largely faithful to their traditional religion.
Having initially survived mainly due to cattle, goats and sheep, they also engage in agriculture today.